Seismographic record correlation system



Jan. 23, 1951 F. ATHY ETAL 2,539,220

sEIsMoGRAPHIc RECORD CORRELATION SYSTEM Filed June 22, 1944 s sheets-sheet 1 Y Receiver L. F. ATHY ET AL SEISMOGRAPHIC RECORD CORRELATION SYSTEM Filed June 22, 1944 Jan. 23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 23, 1951 L. F. ATHY EVAL i SEISMOGRAPHIC RECORD CORRELATION SYSTEM Filed June 22, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 %off fated on the respective strips.

i Patented Jan. 23, P1yr/951 SEISMOGRAPHIC RECORD CORRELATION SYS Lawrence F. Athy` and Harold R. Prescott, Ponca.

City, Okla., assignors to Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application June 22, 1944, Serial No. 541,614

(Cl. ISI-.5)

8 Claims. l

Our invention relates broadly to new and useful improvements in the art of geophysical exploration. 'More particularly, our invention relates to a method of obtaining and assembling record strips produced by continuous seismic proling methods to graphically portray a vertical section of the earths crust along the prole being measured :and to the composite assembly thus obtained.

Various methods of continuous proling are known. Those shown and described in Patents 2,118,441; 2,153,198; 2,321,450 and 2,336,053 issued to Lawrence F. Athy and Elton V. McCollum are typical. Any of these methods can be used to produce the record strips with which the instant invention is primarily concerned.

The traces on the individual record strips depict data from which the physical characteristics and relationship of the subsurface bed between adjacent shot points can be determined. However, the distance between the adjacent shot points is usually small compared with the length of the traverse being measured.` Accordingly, the information that can be obtained from a single i and intelligently inspected or examined collectively. This is a great convenience and permits much more accurate 4deductions to be made. If the strips are properly adjusted longitudinally relative to eacl other to compensate for` diierences in the shot point levels and inthe thick ness of the weathered mantel overlaying the rock strata they present a visual representation or simulation of various subsurface horizons.`

The character of the various horizons are more readily visualized if the reiiections from the horizon interfaces are colored or otherwise accentu- In order to more clearly bring out the character of the horizons along the entire traversait is desirable to -reproduce the assembled strips. To more clearly illustrate the structural aspects a reprint on any desired scale may be made.

An important object of our invention is to provide a novel method of assembling and correlat- ZIO 2 ing record strips so that the data thereon can be more readily studied.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a composite seismographic record section that portrays in Vertical section theV actual character of the subsurface beds.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. l is aA diagrammatic View illustrating a typical method or continuousprofilng by seismographic methods,

lg'ig. 2 is a composite seismographic record section showing the manner in which the various subsurface horizons are brought out when individual record strips are assembled according to the teachings of this invention,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which theindividual record strips are produced,

. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View of a shot point plat showing the manner in which a continuous prole is mapped along a closed traverse,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which dual records are made,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan View showing the manner in which adjacent record strips are assemblcd and matched to compensate for variances in weathering and shot point levels, and

Fig. '7 is a plan View of fa composite record section showing the appearance when the assembled record strips are reproduced.

As suggested, the invention can be adapted to any method of continuous seismic profiling. In Fig. 1 is shown one method that is commonly practiced. A, B, C and D represent shot points; i, 2, 3, and 5 represent seismophone positions and the line m, vi represents a Areflecting subsurface bed. Assuming that A is the end shot point on the traverse, five seismophones are first placed at positions l, 2, 3, 4 and 5 between shot points A and B. Shots are then made successively from point A and point B. The record strip produced ywhen point A is shot depicts the bed m, n from H to K, as shown by the full lines I0. The strip produced when'point B is shot portrays the horizon from K to Y, as shown by the dotted lines l I.

The seismic waves reected from the bed m, n are received by the seismophones and translated to electrical energy. As shown in Fig. 3, the electrical waves are passed through a receiver and amplifier I2 and impressed across wire loops I3 disposed in the field of permanent magnets I4. Beams of light from lamps I5 are projected through lenses I5 onto mirrors I1 carried by the loops I4. The beams of light I8 are reflected from mirrors I1 onto a photographic lm I9 moved at a constant speed by a Asynchronous motor 2li. Changes in the seismic waves reaching the seismophones cause coils I3 to oscillate and, accordingly, to eiect the appearance of traces ZI produced by the reflected light beams I8.

For the purpose of this invention all of the record strips I9 must have the same dimension between time reference marks 22. It is preferred that the strips be narrow 'and that they be moved at an average speed of one foot per second. Narrow strips are more easily correlated for analysis. If the strips are operated at a constant speed or" one foot per second `the characteristics of traces 2l vdenoting subsurface beds will be suiciently spaced to be readily distinguishable. It is to be understood, however, that the record strips I9 may be of any yselected dimension and they lmay be operated lat any desired speed. AIt is only essential that all of the strips have the same dimension between corresponding time reference marks so that the characteristics ofthe traces denotingreections from a particular bed will be in the same relative position when the strips are assembled side by side.

Referring again to Fig. 1, after the shots from pointsll and B have been duly recorded on record strips by the seismophones spread therebetween, the seisniophones are moved topositions 5, i1, 3, 2 and I between shot points B and C. After shots have been taken successively at points B and C lthe seismophones are moved to positions I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 between shot points C and andthe procedure repeated. In Fig. l we have sl'ie'w'n fourhshot holes and ve seismo'phoneposition'sbetween adjacent shotholes but it should be `Vunderstood that any number of sl'it holes 4and seisi''phone positions may be provided depending np'o'n tthe 'a'tufe'of the investigation, the chr'ct'er'df the 'terrain 'and other factrs.

In this method of profiling the-successive recordstips Ahave'one common reflection p'ath. As an illustration, path QKLS and path BJLKL-l are sub`stantially identical Yand are common to records Aproduced from #shots from hole A and hole B with the seismophones spread between these holes. The path B'-Y5is eommon to records produced lby the shot -fromlhol'e yB with the `seismophone's spreadfat positions -I y2,f^-,fl-'and l'.iat the left of the hole and theshot'efromhole'eB with ythe seismophones spread at positions, 4,53,'2 land I at the right ofthe hole. Ihes'e commonor sub stantially common v-paths or traces on the adjacent record strips greatly facilitate matching the strip-s when the composite section is assembled.

In order that the corresponding reflections on the adjacent record strips be correctly matched or correlated along the entire traverse, it is necessary that each strip be Vadjusted 'to the ones next to it. The strips can be correlated either by Vmatching time corrected for near surface Lvariables such as differences in weathering or differences inshot'point levels or by matching lreilections from the Yrespective beds. The Y'former method is preferred since corresponding reections are sometimes difficult to'identi-fy. Generally speaking, the time on a reflection record is the time which elapses from the instant (of blast to the reflected event. This total time s generally not the time used in geological interpretations for the reason that it must be corrected for the weathering layer, differences of elevation, etc. The total time consists of two quantities, the corrected time and the correction value. By corrected time we mean the value which has been corrected for the local variables in order that comparisons between values may be made. Of course, the correction value is the difference between the total time and the corrected time.

A typical method of correlating record strips by matching corrected times is by means of transparent time-scale strips as shown in Fig. 6. The transparent Ystrip is one of the same size as the record strips I9 and it has printed thereon a ktime scale corresponding to the time reference marks 22 recorded on the record strips. When the individual record strips are assembled the transparent time-scale strips are superposed over the traces to be computed and is arranged so that it directly indicatesthe corrected time.

For vexample, in Fig. 6 V'is show'n t'wo nrecor'd strips 23 and M 'correlated by fneans o'f a transparent time-scale strip 25. YComputing trace '26 on record strip 24 hada weathering and elevation correction of +5025 as Ashown at '2l'. Therefore, the instant of blast mark V28 on the 'record 'strip 2li was `set at .025 on the time-scale Za'of 'strip 25. VThis means 'when the `corrected time was 1.050 second on scale 25a, for example, the total time was 1.025. From Vthis it will be observed that the Acorrected time of V15000 second "will usually not be a horizontal Vline on the 'seismic record. 's'eotion but will occur at various positions depending upon the kmagnitude of Athe relative correction quantities.

The use of corrected times obviously saves' 'much laborious effort, as it permits vdirect comparison of geological relief 'from lpoint to point upon reading the corrected scales.

Fig. 2 shows diagrammaticaliy a plurality of record strips I9 properly assembled. It will -be observed that the reference il second marks 29 are Ynot on a horizontal line Vand that the adjacent strips have been corrected for near surface variations. This gure illustrates a composite seismic record section -prod-nced by Vassembling the record strips obtained fr'om a 'continuous traverse -between Vshot points A and D Yin Fig. l1. Strip A-e-R is the record obtained when a shot is Yrecl at A and recorded by-seismo *phones 'spread to therght of the shot hole. lStrip B-L is the record obtained when a shot is fired at Band the lseismopno-1es are spread tothe Ileft of the shot hole. 'Similarly the strip B-R is the record obtained when a fshot Iis red at B and the'seismophones are spread to the 'right of the shot hole. The otherfstrips are correspondingly related to shot holes C and D.

When the individual record strips are lproperly correlated the waves or impulses reflected from the various subsurface beds are matched, as shown at 130, 3l, 32 and `3'3. All of thereections can be visually traced -across the section. The wave to wave or trough to trough characteristics lr'nay likewise be -traced along the traverse. The convergence yor divergence of-reecting horizons may be noted. Continuity `or discontinuity of specific reilecti'onsare illustrated,

ya showing invaluable in ythe "interpretation *of seismographic records. Thefpresence'of geologi- *c'a-l faults and unconformities are 'readily detected yfrom such 7record sections.

` motor 20.

` cilitate study of the assembly.

It is sometimes necessary to make dual-record strips when each shot is red, as shown in Fig. V5. Dual record lstrips are required whereverv continuous proles/aremade along closed traverses having a common side. A situation of this character is illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein loop I represents one traverse and loop 2 represents another traverse.' In exploring an area -it is conventional practice to plot a series of shotholes in the form of a rectangle and to take continuous traverse around the rectangular section. Fr example, let us assume that a continuous prole was made around the perimeter` `of loops I and 2 as represented by line 35 and that the individual record strips when assembled into a composite record section did not furnish sufcient information. The usual procedure then is to shoot along a line or profile dividing the original traverse. In Fig. 4, for example, the shots would be taken along the line 36. Dual record strips must be taken along the latter profile in order that they may be properly correlated with the original 'record strips to produce composite record sections depicting separate closed traverses around loops I and 2. In order that the dual record strips be properly correlated with the record strips originally taken it is necessary that the traces on each pair of strips have like polarity and that they be arranged in transposed relation.

In Fig. 5, we have shown shot points 31 and. 38 having seismophones I2), 9, 8, .'I, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and I spread therebetween. When a shot is ired from shot hole 38 the waves are reflected back to the seismopbonesirom horizon m, n, as shown by lines 39. The seismic impulses are translated to electrical impulses by the seismophones and recorded as traces on record strips in the manner hereinabove described. However, when a dual record is made the electrical impulses from Veach seismcphone are recorded simultaneously in transposed relation on contiguous halves 40a Al' and 4Gb of a common dual record strip di). ternatively, the record strips 40a and 40h may be separate strips operated synchronously by the For example, the impulse from seismophone No. i is pas-sed through amplier No. I

and recorded simultaneously adjacent the outer` margins -of the dual record strip 40 as traces Ia and Ib. The impulse from' seismophone No. Il is passed through amplifier No. III and recorded simultaneously adjacentv thecenter line or inner margins of the dual record strip 40 as traces I 0a and Ilb. The impulses from seismophones 2,

3, 4, 5,3, 1, 8 and 9 are passed through their respective ampliers and recorded ysimultaneously and seriately between traces Ia-I Ila and Ib--IIIIL The electrical impulses from each of the other seismophones are similarly recorded in transposed position. The dual record strips are then separated and assembled into two sets. Each set is composed of selected strips having traces disposed in geographical sequence along the traverse being measured. One set can be assembled with the strips taken along the perimeter of loop I so that a continuous traverse around this loop is depicted, as shown by line 4I. yThe Vother set can be assembled with the record strips taken along the perimeter of loop 2 to depict a continuous traverse around this loop, as shown by line 42.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a method of seismographic survey comprising creating at a rst location a disturbance of the earth and detecting the vibrations at a plurality of points spaced along a ground traverse Afrom said location and recording the vibrations as separate variable amplitude traces on a uniformly moving record strip such that at any given instant the moving points which generate the several traces lie on a straight line perpendicular to the line of strip movement, and repeating the procedure at successively adjacent locations along a continuation of said ground traverse, the improvement which comprises producing simultaneously at each of said locations a dual set of said variable amplitude traces in side by side relation to form a dualrecord wherein the order in which the traces occur in each set. reading outwardly from a point between the two sets, is the same, separating the dual records into respective record strips and forming two groups therefrom accorded to opposing directions on said traverse, producing a composite graphic proiile representation of earth structure by assembling the directionally `accorded record strips in side by side traverse sequence, and superimposing v time indications on and common to the adjacent matching strip edges in said composite prole adjusted to show corrected reflection time.

2. In a method of seismographic survey comprising creating at a localized source a disturbance in the earth and detecting the vibrations at a plurality of points spaced along a ground traverse from said source and recording the vibrations as variable amplitude traces with respect to time such that portions of the record aligned transversely thereof are simultaneously formed, and repeating the procedure at successively adjacent locations along a continuation of said ground traverse, the improvement comprising making dual simultaneous variable amplitude records of such vibrations with respect to time but reversing the arrangement of one relative '-to the other, side 'by side upon separate record strip members, and making composite seismic section records of the separated record strips to show thereon in continuous profile manner the seismic reections as shownby the lateral continuity of the amplitude records by assembling the record s trips in separategroups according to v'their geographic direction and sequence, timing indications on the edge of each strip being in exact coincidence.

3. In a method of seismographic survey comprising creating at a localized source a disturbance in the earth and detecting the vibrations at a plurality of points spaced along a ground traverse from said source and recording the vibrations as variable amplitude traces with respect to time such that portions of the record aligned transversely thereof are simultaneously formed, and repeating the procedure at successively adjacent locations along a continuation of said ground traverse, the kimprovement comprising making dual simultaneous variable amplitude records of such vibrations with respect to time but reversing the arrangement of one of the reoords with respect to the other, side by side on a strip member and producing a composite rec-.-

rdo'n which the seismic reecticn may be correlated and identified and from which the geographic structure may be inferred, by assembling the record strips adjacently iln their relative geographic positions, adjusting said strips relative to each other to compensate for physical conditions influencing the reflected seismic waves, and superimposing transparent timing scale indication on said record strips to indicate corrected time.

4. In a method of seismographic survey `comprising creating at a localized source a disturbance in the earth and detecting the vibrations at a plurality of points spaced along a ground traverse from'said source and recording the vibrations as variable amplitude traces with respect to time such that portions of the record aligned transverseiy thereof are simultaneously formed, and repeating the procedure at successively adjacent locations along a continuation of said ground traverse, the improvement comprising making dual simultaneous variable amplitude records of such vibrations With respect to time but reversing the arrangement of one of the records relative to the other, side by side on a strip member, making a composite record on which the seismic reiie'ctions may be correlated and identified and from which the geographic structure may be inferred by assembling the record strips adjacently in their relative geographical positions, and adjusting said strips relative to each other to compensate for various physical conditions inliuencing the reflected seis-- mic Waves.

5. In a method of seis'mographic survey com-- prising creating at a localized source a disturbance in the earth and detecting the vibrations at a plurality of points spaced along a ground traverse from said source and recording the vibrations as variable amplitude traces with respect to time such that portions of the record aligned transversely thereof are simultaneously formed, and repeating the procedure at successively adjacent locations along a continuation of said ground traverse, the improvement comprising making dual'simultaneous variable amplitude records of such vibrations With respect 'to time but reversing the arrangement of one of the records relative to the other, side by side upon separate record strip members, separating the record strip members, and making composite seismic section records of the separated record strips to show thereon in continuous profile manner the seismic reflections as shown by the lateral continuity of the amplitude records, by assembling the record strips adjacently in geographic direction and sequence and in accordance with the correlatable character of said records.

6. in a method ci seismographic survey comprising creating at a localized source a disturbance in the earth and detecting the vibrations at a plurality of points spaced along a ground traverse from said source and recording the vi- 8 braticns as variable amplitude traces with re'- 'specft to time such that portions of the record laligned transversely thereof are simultaneous'- ly formed, and repeatingv the procedure at suo# 5 cessiv'ely adjacent locations along a continuation of said ground traverse, the improvement comprising making two sets of simultaneous var'- iable amplitude records with respect to time but reversing the arrangement of one of the 'reco-rds 10 relative to the other, Vside by side on a common dual record strip member, separating the dual records, and making composite seismic section records of the individual record strips by assembling the record strips derived from adjacent locations in groups side by side in geographic direction and sequence.

7. In a method "of seismographi'c survey by creating at a localized source a disturbance in the earth to form articial seismic Waves, vproduc'-l 20 ing dual simultaneous variable amplitude records with respect to time, side by side on record strip means, of the vibrations resulting from said 'disturbance at a plurality of points diiierently located relative to said source, the improvement 25 comprising reversing the arrangement of one of the records relative to the other While lionning the portions of the record aligned trans;- versely oi the strip.

8. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the last edge trace of a record strip is substantially identical with the iirst edge trace of the next succeeding record strip produced in traverse sequence.`

LAWRENCE F. A'rHY. :x5 HAROLD R. PRESCOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 946,265 Park et al. Jan. 11,1910 2,024,921 Green Dec. 17, 1935 2,151,878 Weatherby Mar. 28, 1939 2,158,198 Scherbatskoy Apr. 25, 1939 2,156,624 Faust May 2, 1939 2,167,124 Minton July 25, 1939 2,184,313 Owen Dec. 2G, 1939 ""i" 2,191,121 Slichter Feb. 20, 1940 2,192,972 Innes Mar. ll2, 1940 2,202,885 Zuschlag June 4, 1940 2,243,729 Ellis May 27, 19401 2,348,411 Petty May 9, 1944 2,427,421 Rieber Sept. 16, 1947 2,321,450 Athy June 8, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Pirson, Continuous Proling Method of Seisso mographingfor Qil Structures, Publication 833 of the American Institute of Mining and Metal'- lurgical Engineers, February, 1937, pages 3-9. 

